Amid ongoing issues around the roll out of electronic identity cards, CEO Abdullah Abdullah on Monday dismissed criticism and said there is still the need for more debate on the legal and political aspects of the process. 
 
The government and Members of Parliament are still debating the political and legal implications of the identity cards, said Abdullah.

This comes as some MPs in parliament insist the census law and e-NIC should be included in the house agenda once again. But other MPs argue that the census law has already been finalized and that government should order the roll out process of e-NIC immediately. 
 
“People’s concerns and the worries of different segments of society must be taken into consideration before making a decision in this respect so that it can be a reason for more unity among the people and the people’s firm support of the process,” said Abdullah at the council of ministers meeting. 
 
MPs Split on e-NIC Rollout 
 
It is said that members of Afghanistan’s Lower House of Parliament were divided over the process. 

“Our recommendation to you (MPs) is to not waste the time, we have signed on it, our signatures are in line with the internal rules of parliament, you (parliament speaker) should include it in today’s agenda,” said one MP Rahila Saleem.
 
“Now the law has defined the way for you, it is now the time to start the roll out process of Tazkeera (e-NIC), if it is not rolling out, it means ARG (presidential palace) is a hub of corruption,” said MP engineer Sahib Khan.
 
“The law is already approved, did your president not sign it,” said another MP Abdul Rahman Aahmani.
 
“If you go back 200 years, it was not Afghanistan, it was Ghazni and Khorasan, it has been Kapisa or Kabul Shah, we are not fighting for it,” added another MP Abdul Wadoud Paiman. 
 
Some lawmakers meanwhile said that controversy over the legal and political aspects of issues in the country should not be tackled in a manner that could harm the solidarity and unity of the people. 
 
“Any decision which is taken in this respect will be in line with the aspirations of the people of Afghanistan, if there is a need for more debate among the various segments of the people on various aspects of the issue, we support such a process,” said Abdullah.